Transfer Your Physical Therapy License to Maine: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Maine Board of Physical Therapy (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) ↗
Maine has enacted the PT Compact but is not yet issuing or accepting compact privileges (as of 2026-07-21), so no privilege authorizes practice there yet. Every incoming PT or PTA needs a Maine license by endorsement through the Maine Board of Physical Therapy (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation): $30 (PT license fee for the endorsement applicant; + $21 criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT a PT Compact privilege fee — Maine is not yet issuing privileges.), your NPTE score transferred via the FSBPT rather than retaken, processing the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Moving to Maine from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
PT Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Maine is in the compact's waiting room: the law is on the books but the board is not yet issuing or accepting privileges (as of 2026-07-21). Treat Maine exactly like a non-member state for now — a full endorsement application, no privilege shortcut in either direction. When Maine activates, PTs residing there will be able to buy privileges into other member states; this page is updated when that happens.
Maine has ENACTED the PT Licensure Compact (effective Jan 1, 2026) but is NOT yet issuing or accepting compact privileges as of 2026-07-21 — assembler status: pending / compact_member false. Endorsement is the route in: license fee $30 + $21 background check, FSBPT score transfer (or exam waiver for an already-licensed applicant), verification of all licenses, reference form, and transcript. No jurisprudence exam. Board publishes no processing timeframe.
Maine requirements at a glance
| Exam | NPTE is not retaken; the FSBPT forwards the passing score directly to the Board (Score Transfer Service). The Board may waive the examination requirement for an applicant currently licensed in another state who previously passed an equivalent qualifying examination. No state jurisprudence exam. |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
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| Fees | $30 (PT license fee for the endorsement applicant; + $21 criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT a PT Compact privilege fee — Maine is not yet issuing privileges.) |
| Processing time | the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
Step by step
- Confirm Maine's current requirements on the Maine Board of Physical Therapy (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maine Board of Physical Therapy (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Graduate of a board-approved, CAPTE-accredited physical therapy educational program.
- Submit the Application by Endorsement (for applicants currently licensed in another state).
- Have the NPTE passing score transferred to the Board via the FSBPT Score Transfer Service.
- Submit verification of every license ever held, even if not currently active.
- Submit a reference form and an official transcript (if not previously on file).
- Criminal background check.
- Pay the fees ($30 (PT license fee for the endorsement applicant; + $21 criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT a PT Compact privilege fee — Maine is not yet issuing privileges.)) and allow the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Maine:
Frequently asked questions
Does my physical therapy license transfer to Maine?
Maine has enacted the PT Compact but is not yet issuing or accepting compact privileges (as of 2026-07-21), so no privilege authorizes practice there yet. Every incoming PT or PTA needs a Maine license by endorsement through the Maine Board of Physical Therapy (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation): $30 (PT license fee for the endorsement applicant; + $21 criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT a PT Compact privilege fee — Maine is not yet issuing privileges.), your NPTE score transferred via the FSBPT rather than retaken, processing the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Do I have to retake the NPTE to get licensed in Maine?
No. NPTE is not retaken; the FSBPT forwards the passing score directly to the Board (Score Transfer Service). The Board may waive the examination requirement for an applicant currently licensed in another state who previously passed an equivalent qualifying examination. No state jurisprudence exam.. No state requires a second NPTE.
How much does it cost to transfer a PT license to Maine by endorsement?
$30 (PT license fee for the endorsement applicant; + $21 criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT a PT Compact privilege fee — Maine is not yet issuing privileges.) (PT license fee for the endorsement applicant; + $21 criminal-background-check fee (in notes, not the range). NOT a PT Compact privilege fee — Maine is not yet issuing privileges.).
How long does Maine take to process an endorsement application?
the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications — the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Is Maine in the PT Compact?
Maine has enacted the compact but is not yet an active member — it is not issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement is the only working path in.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Maine Board of Physical Therapy — Licensing (PT/PTA) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maine Board of Physical Therapy — Applications & Forms ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]